Thomas Fire Recovery Resources and Important Information for Ventura Residents
In ongoing efforts to communicate with residents of Ventura concerning the unprecedented Thomas Fire, the City of Ventura is providing the following important information on reentry, local assistance, evacuated areas, utility status, road closures, repopulation and assistance for those who have lost their homes.
The City of Ventura is working closely with the County to create a unified response to the recovery. Both the City and the County are also working with state and federal officials on the recovery process. The City has never dealt with an event of this scope and this will be a long-term process.
REENTRY:
Local, state and federal governments are working together to facilitate the repopulation of Ventura neighborhoods with homes that have been damaged or destroyed in the fire, including the process for safe removal and handling of burn debris and ash. The City is mindful of how patient residents have been and knows how badly residents want to return. Getting individuals and families back into their homes as soon as it is safe is a top priority.
It’s important to remember that part of the reentry effort is dependent upon the status of utilities; hillside areas such as Hidden Valley share the gas grid with the Skyline and Ondulando areas.
There are many items taken into consideration when deciding to open an area for reentry:
- Existing fire threats to the City
There are still active fires threatening portions of Ventura; therefore, protecting life and property occupies the majority of our attention and is our priority.
- The more damage a neighborhood has sustained, the more complex and lengthy the effort is to make the area safe for reentry.
Although an area may have been burned days ago, there are still hazards such as: hot foundations, ash pits where trees once stood, flare ups, debris hazards on the ground and in the air
- Status of utilities
Utility companies, including electricity and natural gas service, are working diligently to restore service. This includes damaged utility poles or lines that need to be repaired or replaced. SCE has a massive base camp at the Community Park committed to recovery efforts.
- Amount of toxic materials on the ground from the burn; an assessment needs to be made on what is there and how to deal with it.
- Coordination between agencies
A large amount of coordination is taking place between multiple agencies.
There are many agencies and crews that have a part in ensuring the area is safe for return. The size and scope of the impacted area is a challenge and will take time to secure.
- Protective equipment kits for returning residents
The City will provide residents with kits when they are allowed to return to their neighborhoods. Safety items such as gloves, safety glasses, Tyvek suits, masks, trash bags and other items will be included.When an area is ready to be reopened, the City will notify the public. We assure you that the City of Ventura is working with the county, state, and other agencies, including utilities, to grant residents access to their property.
We expect to have an update from the utility companies regarding the status of service soon.
Residents and business owners of affected areas must remain evacuated. Any disturbance to your property may put your health, safety, and future financial standing at risk.
UTILITY UPDATES:
Natural Gas Update
- In the City of Ventura, SoCal Gas crews stopped the flow of gas into some of the communities affected by the fires at the request of first responders. Currently about 1,300 customers have had their service interrupted.
- As of 10am on Monday, December 11, SoCal Gas identified 421 customers whose natural gas service lines have been disconnected from SoCal Gas’ natural gas main, due to fire damage. This number is subject to change.
- As of 10am on Monday, December 11, SoCal Gas identified 949 customers whose natural gas service will need to be restored once officials determine it is safe to do so. This number is subject to change.
- SoCal Gas had approximately 300 employees working in the City of Ventura late last week to prepare the natural gas pipeline system for restores to impacted customers. SoCal Gas stands ready to mobilize technicians once they receive approval from officials to begin restoring service.
Southern California Edison Update
As of 5pm on December 12, SCE identified approximately 1,500 customers in the Ventura area as currently without power.
As of 3pm on Monday, December 11, Southern California Edison had replaced more than 70 poles in the City of Ventura.
Southern California Edison has advised that there will be pockets of power outages in regions affected by the Thomas Fire as they assess damages and complete repairs. A map of current outages can be found here. If you see a downed power line, please call 911. If you have questions regarding your specific service from Southern California Edison, please call 800-611-1911.
Customers should report gas leaks by calling 911 or 1-800-427-2200. For updated information, visit socalgas.com
LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER:
The County of Ventura, in coordination with state and federal partners, is opening a Local Assistance Center (LAC) that will serve as a centralized, single point facility to provide essential resources and services to those that are beginning the recovery process to restore their households.
Representatives from City of Ventura departments will also be at the Local Assistance Center to answer questions and provide important information to residents.
The LAC will be located at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. The hours of operation will be:
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
From east Ventura, go westbound on Foothill at Day Road
From west Ventura, take Hillmont Street or Seaward Avenue to Foothill Road
The County of Ventura has also launched a website dedicated to helping victims of the Thomas Fire in their recovery. The website is called Ventura County Recovers (www.VenturaCountyRecovers.org) and will serve as a comprehensive source of information for all matters relating to fire recovery. The site will be updated on a regular basis and will evolve as the recovery moves through its various phases.
To aid in the recovery, the County is also working on plans to re-assess properties damaged by the fire, streamline the permitting process, increase public health activities, and activate a robust debris removal plan.
VENTURA CITY HALL IS OPEN:
Ventura City Hall is open and ready to assist residents; business hours are 7:30am–5:00 pm. City Hall is located at 501 Poli Street. The Building & Safety Division is in Room #117; an extra public counter is located in the Community Meeting Room.
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS FOR THE CITY OF VENTURA:
All mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders have been lifted in the City of Ventura with the exception of all neighborhoods North of Foothill Rd from Day Road to Kimball Road in the City of Ventura.
CURFEW ORDER IN THE CITY OF VENTURA
The Curfew Order issued on 12/05/2017 has been amended for the City of Ventura. The Curfew has been lifted in all areas with the exception of the following areas:
- North of Foothill Road from Day Road to Kimball Road
As of 12/12/17 there will be no escorted visits to the evacuated neighborhoods; this could change.
The National Guard Military Police have been brought in to assist the Ventura Police Department in serving and protecting the City of Ventura. Due to the countywide emergency, mutual aid resources are limited and have been exhausted. Allied Law Enforcement Agencies have been assisting the Ventura Police Department, but they must return to serving their own jurisdictions. The National Guard will be assisting the Ventura Police with traffic closures in the impacted areas and assisting with residential escorts.
BOIL WATER ADVISORY LIFTED CITYWIDE
As of 12/12/2017 at 12pm the boil water advisory has been lifted citywide; it is no longer necessary to boil water or consume bottled water.
HARD ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE CITY OF VENTURA
- Foothill Road from Day Road to Kimball Road
PARKING ENFORCEMENT UPDATE FOR CITY OF VENTURA
The Ventura Police Department will not enforce meter parking regulations in Downtown Ventura until January 2, 2018. Drivers are not required to pay the meter fee at time of parking. Oversized vehicle parking restrictions are also lifted and will not be enforced until January 2, 2018.
DUST MASK DISTRIBUTION IN THE CITY OF VENTURA
N95 masks are being distributed free of charge to those residents and businesses impacted by the fire.
Ventura County Fair – Red Cross Shelter
10 W. Harbor Blvd Ventura
Beth Torah Temple (placed outside)
7620 Foothill Road, Ventura
9am-4pm
Barranca Vista Center
7050 Ralston Street, Ventura
9am – 4pm Monday through Friday
Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main Street, Ventura
8:30am – 5pm Monday through Friday
Ventura City Hall (entrance at back parking lot)
501 Poli Street, Ventura
7:30 am-5pm Monday through Friday
City of Ventura Maintenance Yard
336 Sanjon Road, Ventura
7:30am-5pm Monday through Friday
Hill Road Library
1070 S. Hill Road, Ventura
During regular library hours
Saticoy Library
1292 Los Angeles Avenue, Ventura
During regular library hours
EVACUATION SHELTERS
- City of Ventura – Ventura County Fairgrounds (Red Cross – Includes an animal shelter for all types of animals) – 10 W Harbor Blvd, Ventura, CA
- City of Oxnard – Oxnard College Gymnasium – 4000 S. Rose Ave, Oxnard
- UCSB – Recreational Center (Includes an Animal Shelter for small animals – preferably in crates) 516 Ocean Road, Santa Barbara
- City of Ojai – In partnership with safety and government officials, the Red Cross has transitioned residents of the Nordhoff High School shelter in Ojai (1401 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai) to alternative shelters on Saturday, 12/9.
ANIMAL EVACUATIONS
Please call 866-EVRT911 (866-387-8911) for requests for assistance in animal evacuations.
Large animal evacuations at the Ventura County Fairgrounds – 10 W Harbor Blvd, Ventura
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
Please see vcoe.org for all school closure updates.
The public is reminded to stay vigilant about current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and evacuation orders. Please drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel in the area.
For real time public information and mapping, please visit www.readyventuracounty.org
For recovery information, please visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org
Residents are highly encouraged to sign up for VC Alert (www.vcalert.org), Ventura County’s Emergency Notification System. In the event an emergency incident requires residents to evacuate, or follow important instructions, public safety officials will use this system to notify residents in a timely manner.
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